(At right) Flanked by friends and family members, a wreath is carried down the beach to be released into the ocean in memory of Craig, "founding father" of the Beach Patrol. Carrying the wreath is the current head of the organization, Capt. Butch Arbin, who is flanked by Craig's son, Robert Craig, and grandson, Christopher Craig. (Above) Sean Williams pushes a surf board, carrying the wreath and the ashes of Capt. Craig, toward a Coast Guard boat, which released the wreath farther from the shore.

Oh yes, Captain got around in various ways as he supervised us. One day when I was guarding along the boardwalk, I turned around and there was the Captain riding by on the boardwalk tram. Other times, he’d be in the jeep, pick-up or zodiac boat.

Both Captain Craig and Assistant Captain Schoepf were teachers/coaches during the school year. Then they’d leave school and come down to serve on the OCBP during the summer. You never knew when they might show up. If they caught us with to many chics around our lifeguard stand, we’d get a dose of “The School of Hard Knocks.”

Yes, Captain’s Craig and Schoepf expected us to maintain beach safety to the utmost and not be distracted from our duties. Having to many chics around your stand at the wrong time could get you a real good blistering!!

As members of the OCBP, we’d get discount cards from the town’s finest resteraunts. Ohhh, the good ole days....

I recall Captain Craig telling me that he remembers when a horrific hurricane opened up the inlet in Ocean City in 1933. Shortly after the hurricane passed by, the ocean returned to extreme calm with very peaceful sunny blue skies.

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